Being Forced to Graduate Early... HELP

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hello, everyone. I am currently a junior at a majority low-income public high school. When school first started, I was called to my counselor’s office and she explained to me that I was eligible to graduate at the end of this year instead of staying another year to be a senior (I would basically skip junior year). I was very skeptical at first, but I decided to go home and talk to my mother about it. She wants me to graduate this year wholeheartedly, agreeing with everything that my counselor brought up.

My problem is that I don’t want to.

Right now, I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, I am ranked 1/~330 (but this would probably change if I skip), I am a member of the National Honor Society, Captain of the Varsity Academic Team, on the Board of the Student Council, and President of a club that reviews and funds grant applications. I was also invited onto the Citizens Advisory Committee (like a city council thing) by my principal. I took the ACT as a freshman and received a composite score of 28, but I will be retaking it in October and am expected to get a 30+ on the exam. I self-studied for the AP Art History exam last year and received a 5. I intend to major in art history at university. I am an African American male with a low household income of ~$20,000.

So that’s me. I COULD apply for Questbridge, but they would see my 28 ACT score (including the low math and science sections) instead of my October score, as well as missing the SAT II’s I plan to take. That might ruin my chances of even becoming a finalist… which is something I don’t even want to think about. Also, a qualified girl from my school graduated early last year and got rejected from every private school she applied to through Questbridge, which isn’t encouraging. I also could try and aim for some LAC’s with higher acceptance rates, but who knows if I’ll get in anywhere since I’m such a unique case?

I need insight. Guidance. Anything will help. I just feel so lost with this, and the pressure from my overbearing counselor and mother (who threatened to move high schools for my last year if I DON’T graduate early) isn’t helping at all.

2

I would say that you should finish with your class. High school classes are free, college classes are not.
Also, you don’t want to make yourself miserable.
My question is, why does your mother want you to graduate early so badly?

3

Could you take AP and DE classes? As Otter517 pointed out high school is free college is not, it makes more sense to spend 4 years in high school and 3 or even 3 and a half in college.

4

It is going to be hard to fight the combined enthusiasm of mother and guidance counselor. But I encourage you to find a trusted adult who can be your advisor and advocate for this situation.

Is there a teacher who you know will support you? Do you have a church leader your mom respects?

You are set up to be eligible for great scholarship opportunities, but having to scramble to apply and having to submit a 28 ACT score is going to cost you thousands of dollars.

I bet a 28 ACT sounds fabulous to your guidance counselor, if your school doesn’t produce a lot of academic scholars. But getting to 31 or 32 will magnify your opportunities greatly.

What do kids in your school do when they graduate from your HS? I do not see the need to rush you.

Please stick to your plan, study as much as you can for the ACT, and reach out to any sane adult who will agree to advocate for you.

Please use this forum to ask questions. There are parents here with lots of knowledge.

5

What courses are available to you if you stay in HS? Are you able to take more AP classes or do dual enrollment?